This article was co-authored by Luba Lee, FNP-BC. Luba Lee is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner in Tennessee. She received her MSN from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Blisters are fluid-filled bumps that appear on your skin when it has experienced friction. You may get them on your feet after walking around in shoes that are too tight, or on your hands after spending a day shoveling in the garden. If you get a blister, it's important to know how to treat it at home, so that it can heal quickly and you can avoid infection. However, there may be times when you do need to seek medical attention for a large or infected blister.

Steps

Method1

Treating Small Blisters at Home

1

Wash the area with soap and water. If you have a blister, no matter how small, it's important to keep the area clean. This will help ensure that if it accidentally pops, it won't get infected.

2

Give small blisters some air. Small, unbroken blisters will go away on their own after a few days. There's no need to pop them or bandage them. Just air them out as much as you can.[1]

If the blister is on your foot, wear sandals or loose slippers around the house to give it time to heal.

If the blister is on your hand, there's no need to wear gloves or a bandage as long as you aren't using your hands to do something that might cause the blister to break or get infected.

3

Protect unpopped blisters. When you leave the house or start an activity, protect unpopped blisters so they don't accidentally get popped. Use a loose bandage or a donut moleskin bandage to cover it.[2]

Donut moleskin bandages are available at most pharmacies. They create a protective barrier around the blister, while still allowing it to breathe.

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Method 1 Quiz

Do you need to bandage small blisters?

Yes, if they pop.

Nope! Popped small blisters don't need to be bandaged, They will heal by themselves with just fresh air. Pick another answer!

Yes, to keep them from getting infected.

Not quite! Even without being bandaged your blister probably won't get infected. If you have a blister on an area of skin that you work with frequently (like there's a blister on your hand and you work in construction) you might want to wear gloves to protect your blistered area. Try again...

No, they just need air.

Almost! Popped small blisters just need fresh air to heal them. You shouldn't need to bandage popped blisters, but some blisters require slightly different treatment. Try again...

Only if they haven't popped.

Exactly! Most small blisters don't need to be bandaged. If they haven't popped, though, it's a good idea to use a moleskin bandage or a loose bandage to cover the blister so it can heal without popping. Read on for another quiz question.

Method2

Treating Large Blisters at Home

1

Wash the area gently. Clean a large blister and the surrounding area with warm, soapy water. Make sure your hands are also clean, since blisters can easily become infected.[3]

Be gentle when cleaning the blister. Try to keep the blister intact until you can pop it in a controlled way.

2

Drain the blister if it pops. Press on the blister with your finger. Fluid should begin flowing from the hole. Keep pressing on it until it is completely drained. Use a cotton ball to wipe away the fluid.[4]

Draining your own blister is a sanitary way to help it heal faster and to reduce the pain you might feel from the swollen area.

If your large blister does not pop on its own, you should visit your healthcare professional.

3

Do not remove the flap of skin. Once your blister is drained, there will be a flap of skin left on the surface. This deflated blister skin will protect the skin underneath from getting infected. There's no need to tear or cut it off.[5]

4

Apply an ointment to blisters you have drained. Use a cotton swab to apply polymyxin B or bacitracin antibiotic ointment to the area. This will prevent the wound from becoming infected and will keep the bandage from sticking to your skin.[6]

Some people are allergic to antibiotic ointments. If you are, cover the area in petroleum jelly instead.

5

Bandage popped blisters. Protect popped blisters so they don't become infected. Use a bandage or gauze to loosely cover the area. Make sure the tape doesn't touch the blister.[7]

Change the bandage once a day, or every time it gets wet or dirty.

If the blister is on your foot, wear socks and comfortable shoes. Don't make it more irritated by walking around in the shoes that caused the blister to begin with.

If the blister is on your hand, wear gloves to protect it when you do daily tasks like washing dishes or cooking. Don't repeat the task that caused you to get the blister to begin with.

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Method 2 Quiz

True or False: Draining a large blister will help it heal faster.

True

Absolutely! If your blister pops, apply pressure with your finger to drain all of the fluid. This will help the healing process move more quickly and will also reduce the pain caused by the blister. Read on for another quiz question.

False

Nope! Draining a large blister will help it heal faster. If your blister doesn't pop and start to drain on its own, visit a healthcare professional to get it taken care of. Try another answer...

Method3

Seeking Medical Attention

1

Consider having your doctor treat large blisters. Blisters that are large, painful, and in an area that is hard for you to get to can be treated by a doctor. A doctor will have sterile tools they can use for draining the blister. This will ensure that the area is clean and disinfected before sending you on your way.

2

Go to the doctor if a blister gets infected. An infected blister can lead to bigger problems, so it's best to have a doctor check it out and advise you on the proper treatment. They may clean and dress the area and give you a prescription for antibiotics. Signs of infection include the following:[8]

Red, itchy, swollen skin near the affected area.

Yellow pus emerging from under the skin flap of the deflated blister.

The area around the blister is warm to the touch.

Red streaks on the skin running from the infected area.

3

Seek immediate treatment if you experience serious symptoms. In rare cases, an infected blister can lead to bigger health problems as the infection moves throughout the body. Seek immediate medical care if you have the following serious symptoms:[9]

A high fever.

Chills.

Vomiting.

Diarrhea.

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Method 3 Quiz

What serious symptoms might come with an infected blister?

Swelling.

Close! After you get a blister, pay attention to the area around it. Swelling could be a sign of infection, but this isn't the only possible sign of infection. Pick another answer!

Red streaks on the skin.

Almost! Red streaks coming from the blister site is a serious sign of infection that you should get checked out immediately. This isn't the only possible sign of infection, though. Choose another answer!

Nausea and vomiting.

You're not wrong, but there's a better answer! If your blister gets infected, the infection might move from the blister site through your body causing side effects like nausea, vomiting, and chills. If you experience any of these or any other possible signs of infection, visit a doctor as soon as possible. Pick another answer!

All of the above.

Yep! All of the previous answers may be signs of infection. If you notice any or all of these after you've gotten a blister, seek medical attention immediately. Read on for another quiz question.

Method4

Preventing Blisters

1

Wear gloves when working with your hands. Blisters are commonly caused by doing repetitive movements that cause friction. However, if you wear gloves before you even start your project, the friction created by these movements will be minimized and blisters can be prevented.[10]

For example, using a shovel for extended periods of time rubs repeatedly on the skin in the same spot. However, wearing gloves while using a shovel will cushion your hands and prevent blisters.

2

Wear proper footwear. Wearing new shoes or shoes that fit poorly can create blisters, especially on the toes and the back of the heel. To avoid getting blisters on your feet, make sure that your shoes fit correctly. Break in new shoes gradually by wearing them often but only for short periods of time. This repeated wear will break them in without rubbing long enough to create blisters.[11]

3

Protect areas of skin that will get rubbed repeatedly. If you know that a pair of shoes causes blisters or you are going to do a project that you know will create blisters on your hands, be proactive and protect your body. Put padding on areas of your body that you think will get repeatedly rubbed, so that blisters can't form.[12]

For example, put a bandage over a spot on your hand that gets repeatedly rubbed while you are doing a craft project or some other repetitive motion.

If you have problems with blisters on your feet, wear 2 pairs of socks to create more padding on them.

There is also padding available at most pharmacies that is made to cushion areas of your feet that rub in your shoes. This padding, often called "mole skin," typically sticks to the skin to keep it in place.

4

Reduce friction between areas of your skin. Use lotions, powders, and petroleum jelly to reduce friction between 2 areas of your skin that rub against each other. For instance, if your legs are repeatedly rubbing up against each other, put some petroleum jelly between them so that the rubbing doesn't create friction and heat, which will cause blisters.[13]

For example, those that ride bikes or run long distances experience a lot of skin rubbing, which can lead to blisters. Using lubrication between areas that rub can minimize discomfort and blisters.

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Method 4 Quiz

What causes blisters?

Pressure

Not quite! Putting a lot of pressure on one part of your body or skin will not cause blisters, though it might cause a bruise. Blisters are caused by another type of force. Choose another answer!

Friction

Right! Friction between your skin and another object or material causes blisters. Frequently repeated movements, like playing a stringed instrument or chopping wood with an ax, are liable to cause blisters because the repetitive motion causes friction on the same spot over and over again. Try wearing gloves, bandages, or applying lotion to areas of your skin that receive a lot of friction. Read on for another quiz question.

Heat

Not necessarily! When combined with another force heat can make blisters worse, but heat on its own does not cause blisters. There is one type of motion that causes blisters, and once you identify it, you'll be better able to prevent blisters. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Speed

Not exactly! Speed on its own doesn't cause blisters. There is another force at play when blisters are created. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Blisters on the tips of your fingers are usually caused by repetitive activities, such as playing guitar or other stringed instruments. If this is the case, your body will start to form callouses over the area so that you won't keep developing blisters. In the meantime, play your instrument only as much as you can. Keep your fingers clean, and apply an antibacterial ointment and bandage if the blisters get raw. Don't pick at the blisters. If you use a bandage, change it often and replace it if it gets dirty or falls off.

Should I drain a blister from my finger that used to be a callus and cover it or should I let it heal naturally?

Community Answer

Sterilize the area and then lance it using a sewing needle. If it causes pain when you touch it or apply gentle pressure, you should numb it with ice until you cant feel anything, sterilize the area, lance (on the side), apply pressure, and then cover with antibiotic ointment. Cover with a bandage and wash daily.

Put something in between the blister and whatever it is you're interacting with. Wear gloves if it's on your hand or layer gauze over top of the blister. Also, try to keep the area as sterile as possible to avoid infection.

To treat a small blister, wash the area with warm soapy water and then let the blister go away on its own without popping it. If a blister is large and painful, drain it and then cover it with antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Protect all blisters from further irritation by covering them when there is a chance they will be rubbed or irritated. For instance, if the blister is on your foot, wear sandals or slippers that don't touch it so it won’t get irritated. If the blister becomes infected, seek medical attention. To learn more ways to prevent getting blisters from our Medical Review Board co-author, keep reading!

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Article Info

This article was co-authored by Luba Lee, FNP-BC. Luba Lee is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner in Tennessee. She received her MSN from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

"I was trying to take my fan loose, but I used the wrong screwdriver, and it caused me to get a blister on my left index finger and my right thumb. The information that was given was very helpful in letting me know what to do. Thank you."..." more

E

Emma

Apr 14, 2018

"To pop a big blister on the side, and use cream and bandage. Also, not peeling the skin off of a blister."

A

Anonymous

Apr 17, 2017

"The thing that helped me most was that I can wait until it pops some on it's own instead of popping it."

A

Anonymous

Jul 25, 2016

"When to seek medical attention was good and if popping the blister would hurt were useful steps."

A

Anonymous

Jul 28, 2017

"It actually is my first time having one so this was very helpful as to how to treat it."

HW

Harley Wilson

Apr 4, 2016

"Thank you for telling me not to remove the flap, I was so close to ripping it off."

SL

Stephanie Long

Aug 12, 2016

"That it won't hurt to pop it, and give it time it will heal on its own helped."